Welcome to the Lok Sabha election 2019 coverage. This blog tracks the latest developments from the general election.
The BJP reacted with jubilation at the exit polls, which forecast a return of the NDA government, saying that they show a huge positive vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but opposition parties rejected the forecast.
Narendra Modi is returning to power with a bang, silencing sceptics and stunning opponents, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) likely to win 336 seats in General Elections 2019, according to a comprehensive News18-Ipsos exit poll.
The Election Commission of India (EC) on March 10 announced that the Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases. Counting of votes will be held on May 23.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners are making a bid to retain power. This is amid efforts by Opposition several parties, including the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, to put a united fight.
Election authorities said Wednesday that declaration of results of 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat may get delayed by around 3 to 4 hours due to counting of voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips.
VVPAT slips of five randomly selected Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be counted in every Assembly segment after EVM votes are counted, said the state's Chief Electoral Officer S Murali Krishna.
Each of the 26 Lok Sabha seats has six to seven assembly segments.
– PTI
A look at total number of candidates fielded by national parties such as BJP, Congress, BSP, TMC and others.
As per the opposition’s demand, EVM counting may begin post noon or evening. Opposition has demanded counting of 5 VVPATs of polling booth to be matched with EVM before the counting of votes. If opposition demands are accepted, then the trends cannot be expected before evening and might take 2-3 day for the full results to be declared: EC source
Election Commission refuses any change in counting process as demanded by the opposition, News18 reports.
Is the Supreme Court working under somebody's influence? They have given logistical reasons for not counting all VVPATs. If there is a delay of 2-3 days in counting, what is the harm? We know the EC is faulty. Supreme Court has got no reasoning. It gives judgement on its will.
Sharad Pawar has reached out to YSRCP'sYS Jagan Mohan Reddy, TRS's K ChandrashekarRao and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, according to a report by NDTV.
The former union minister and NCP chief has reportedly made phone calls to KCR and Patnaik for support in case the Opposition gets an opportunityto form the government. Pawar is believed to have been assured support by Patnaik and KCR if the UPA has the numbers to form a stable government with their support.
NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister JayduttKshirsagar is expected to join Shiv Sena today, News18 has reported.
PM Modi yesterday expressed concern over the "needless controversy" created by the Opposition over EVMs at a meeting of NDA leaders, even as the ruling alliance laid out its agenda for the next five years if it is elected to power again.
Earlier yesterday, leaders of 22 Opposition parties met the EC and demanded verification of VVPAT slips of randomly-selected polling stations before the counting of the votes. The opposition representation to the EC came barely two days before the counting of votes and after exit poll projections that the BJP-led NDA is likely to return to power.
Union Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh: Today, 36 NDA allies were present at the NDA leaders dinner today. 3 NDA allies who were not present today have given their support in writing.
The Election Commission will meet tomorrow to decide on the demands presented to them by 22 Opposition parties over allegations of EVM tampering.
In the memorandum, the Opposition leaders have also demanded that if any discrepancy is found anywhere during the VVPAT verification, 100% counting of paper slips of VVPATs of all polling stations of that assembly segment should be done.
